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Type: Article
Published: 2025-07-03
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Scuttle flies (Diptera: Phoridae) from Thousand Flower Garden: describing new species and geographical records for the Malaysian fauna

Forensic Science Program, Faculty of Health Sciences, Basement One, Perpustakaan Tun Seri Lanang, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia.
Centre for Insect Systematics, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia.
scuttle flies taxonomy identification keys checklist Malaysia Oriental region

Abstract

Scuttle flies (Diptera: Phoridae) are a highly diverse and ecologically important insect group. Their exceptional diversity in life histories, habitat adaptability, and species richness make them invaluable indicators across diverse fields, including biodiversity, ecology, medical, and forensic. While over 130 species from more than 30 genera have been documented in Peninsular Malaysia, the distribution of scuttle flies within urban green spaces remains largely unexplored. This study investigated the scuttle fly fauna of Thousand Flower Garden in Malacca, Peninsular Malaysia, an urban garden park blending natural and landscaped features. Malaise traps and pan traps baited with decomposed beef liver were employed for sampling. Morphological examination of the collected specimens revealed two new species: Metopina fauzii sp. nov. and Woodiphora malaccensis sp. nov. Furthermore, the study also documented two new geographical records for the Malaysian Phoridae fauna: Megaselia media (Collin, 1912) and Metopina climieorum Disney, 1994. Notably, this study provides the first definitive association and comprehensive description of the female Epicnemis testis Borgmeier, 1962. These findings significantly contribute to our understanding of scuttle fly diversity in Malaysia, highlighting the presence of undescribed taxa and expanding the known distribution of certain species.

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